Disinfecting apparatus for water-closets



(N Model.) l Y ,0. S. RICE, J1.v

`BISINPBG'I'Ilsmr APPARATUS FOB. WATER oLosETs.

No. 276,470. A vPAA-Amd Ap1-.24,1883.

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Wl/yifj WR A A y 9% UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEO CHARLES Sf'RICE, JR., OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DISlNFECTING APPARATUS FOR WATER-CLOSETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,470, dated April 24, 1883.

` Application filed November 8, 1882. (No model.) t

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES S. RICE, Jr., a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented an Improvement in Disint'ecting Apparatus for Water- Closets, of which the following is a specitica` tion, to wit:

This invention relates to devices-for disinfecting water-closets or similar places; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is afront view of my invention as arranged for use. Fig. 2 is a similar view enlarged, with the front ot' the case removed; and Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section ofthe operating devices of the invention.

A represents a box or case, whichis divided into two compartments, the upper one of which is provided with asmall vessel, B, having a bellows, B, communicating with it, as shown'. The upper side of this bellows is weighted, as seen at a a, and is attached to a cord orchain, b, passing over a series of pulleys, bf,- and out through an opening, a', in the front of the case A. The vessel B is filled with a disinfectingliquid--such, for instance, as thymol-and is furnished with a small pipe or tube, c, which communicates with the outer air through a grated opening, c', in the front of the case, as seen in Fig. 1.

When the article isplaced in a water-closet, the cord or chain bis attached to the hinged lid over the bowl, and when this is shut the bellows is expanded and air drawn into the vessel B through the pipe c, where it becomes impregnated with the vapor of the disinfectant. When the lid is raised to Vuse the closet the bellowsis released, and, being forced down by the weights c a, drives out the air charged with disinfectant, which spreads itself through the closet, thoroughly destroying any germs of disease which may be lioating in the air, without leaving behind any unpleasant s'mell.

In the lower compartment of the case or box A is a box, C, which is provided with an opening, d, in its upper end, sealed by a cover, C',

which is held in position upon a rubber packing-cushion, C2, bymeans of a thumb-screw, d', working through a small frame, d2, upon the box or receptacle C. The upper end ot' thebox C isconnected with a Water-pipe, D, which leads to a reservoir or communicates with the street-mains1 and is provided with a stop-cock, D, to regulate the 110W.

E is the escape-pipe, which passes through the bottom of the boxC and rises nearly to its upper end, as seen by Fig. 3. This boxfis lled with a powdered disinfectantsuch as chloride of zincnearly to the topof the escapepipe, which latter is at its opposite end connected to the'closet-bowl. The stop-cock D is then turned to allow a constant drip of water into the receptacle C, which soon accumulates, dissolves a portion of the chloride of zinc, and constantly overflows through the pipe E to the bowl, thereby not only destroying the germs in any deposits, but also in any gas which may be forced back into thefcloset when not in use.

This device does not in any way interfere with the iiushing ofthe bowl or mar its casings. In such devices as ordinarily constructed with open vessels for containing the powdered disinfectant, the sediment sometimes stops up the escape-pipe and causes the water to overflow; but in the present invention the receptacle, being sealed securely, is not liable to such overflow, and should the pipe E become obstructed the pressure of the water would eventually force it clear.

To prevent noise of the dripping water when the disinfectant has been partly used, and also to cause such drip to descend to the bottom,V

I provide a short section of pipe, E', placed directly under the inlet-pipe `D, andextending down some distance into the chloride vof zinc, as shown by Fig. 3, which guides the drip and aids in loosening the particles of zinc from the general mass.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a disinfecting apparatus for waterclosets and the like, the combination, with a vessel for containing liquid disinfectant, and

having a single air inlet and outlet, of a weighted bellows and means for expanding the same,

whereby air is drawn into and forced out of der the supply-pipe, as and for the purpose said vessel through a single pipe, substnnherein described. 1o tially as shown and described. In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 2. In a disinfecting; apparatus for waterpresence of two witnesses. closets, the combination, with the vessel C, CHARLES S. RICE, JR. having a supply-pipe, D, and escape-pipe E, Witnesses: arranged substantially as described, of the FRANK JOHNSON, short section of pipe E', located directly un- J. E. STEVENSON. 

